The irs targeting of political groups. In october, chaffetz introduced legislation to impeach koskinen. Without objection the chair is authorized to declare recess of the committee at any time. We welcome everyone to the hearing on examining allegations of misconduct on irs commissioner John Koskinen part one. I begin with myself. The constitution sets forth a system of checks and balances and grants each branch of government tools to shake sure no one gets too much power. The power to write the laws, power of the purse, impeachment power and other powers. They allow congress to expert oversight over branches including rooting up corruption, fraud and abuse by government officials and taking further disciplinary action on behalf of the American People when warranted. The duty to serve as a check on the other branches including against corruption and abuse is a solemn one and congress does not and must not take this responsibility lightly. That is why this committee scheduled a hearing
In addition, career investigators at the department of justice also looked into these claims. They also found, and i quote again, no evidence that any official involved in the handling of the tax exempt applications or irs leadership attempted to obstruct justice, into quotation. Its no wonder then that we have read reports of speaker ryan doing his best to make certain this measure never reaches the floor of the house, as Speaker Boehner did before him. Its also not a surprise that many in the republican conference have been critical of the tactics that forced this hearing. Chairman boost the need for the subcommittee on tax policy has argued that this hearing is a waste of time and and potentially damaging to our priorities. He told reporters last week, if we do this is going to further delay the investigation. I think its time to move on, into quotation. Senator orrin hatch, the chairman of the Senate Finance committee, has said that there simply no interest in impeachment activity
A specific fashion, not in oblique mention in wind up statement or some generality. There needs to be specific requests made so that we can engage whether or not vietnam is about to move in the right direction or continue its deterioration when it comes to human rights. There are a number of areas where Human Rights Violations are worsening, human trafficking, religious freedom and administration could, today, designate vietnam as a cpc country, country of particular concern, the facts are warranted and they also could be known as a tier three country when it comes to egregious violations of sex and labor trafficking, especially labor trafficking in vietnam. So the president has tools in his tool box, the president of the United States, we hope that hef us he uses them. Well send per your request and your testimony your strong appeal backed up by our strong appeal, well do it immediately. I hope its specific some general statement about human rights. It hasnt in any other country aroun
In my give rise to the appearance of a conflict of interest. Wisdoms in its infinite allowed to the independent counsel law to expire. The attorney general retains the authority to designate an individual was a special counsel. The irs and how untruthful they have been. Legislation that reenacts the ethics in Government Act of 1978. So an independent counsel can be appointed. I have a great deal of respect for the two members before the committee today. Ive been fortunate to work with both of them. They have called for the impeachment of the irs commissioner. They led she obstructed justice and committed perjury. Their ownch conducted investigation into the socalled irs targeting scandal. It uncovered various management problems there was no evidence allegations of criminal behavior. Or that he deliberately misled congress. There is no evidence that the commissioner acted in bad faith. This includes over 78,000 emails sent or received by lois lerner. Hard to challenge this as an attemp
Clearly, it can happen very rapidly and we need to be aware that. Ctly i dont want to go further on that. They are not the only threat that we face on iran and syria. Suggestshe evidence [indiscernible]. I wonder what preparations we have taking place. Know they are already attacking the allies we are supporting, what Additional Support are we offering . Well, this is one of those most extreme hardline groups and it emerged in syria in 2011 and it is probably the strongest a cube franchise globally. A has its stronghold in province and it is certainly a spoiler in the political process in syria and it might represent it which becomes might represent a petri dish. Significantt, a portion are syrian focused that provide a wider wrapping to those much more specifically a qa aligned forces that might 48. A qition aligned forces that might harbor ambition. Small a potentially a potentially small element of British Foreign fighters associated with it, the specifics are unclear. To strategy i